Cyprus problem plan ‘bringing results’
We have a specific plan for the Cyprus problem, which we have been implementing since day one, and is slowly bringing results, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday without downplaying the difficulties.
“I consider the initiative of the UN Secretary-General to be particularly important, and thank him once again for convening the recent informal meeting with Mr Tatar. It was an important first step,” he said speaking to reporters in Limassol.
He underlined that the meeting was important as previously Turkish Cyprit leader Ersin Tatar had refused a meeting with Christodoulides, even socially.
“Beyond that there are two outcomes, I wish there were much more,” he added repeating that that was because of the negative attitude of the Turkish Cypriot leader.
“We are focusing on two issues at the moment.
“Firstly, this informal multilateral conference, which I consider to be particularly important, so that we can achieve the objective of resuming negotiations. Our effort is focused on making the appropriate preparations for results.
“The second concerns the meeting in Nicosia, we have expressed our readiness, our positions on specific crossing points are known, I expect this meeting to take place as soon as possible, I am ready on my part, I have also stated this to the UN, and I am waiting to see what results there will be.”
Christodoulides said reaching this point is a result of the clear political will shown by the Greek Cypriot side.
He said this was reflected in its working closely UN special envoy Maria Angela Holguin, 14 unilateral measures and moves on Euro-Turkish issues, all of which showed “the international community the clear political will of our side”.
He also underlined the belief that the EU can play a greater role in the Cyprus problem, “from the beginning we have said that the EU can play a decisive role.
“So, in summary, we have a specific plan in mind, a specific plan that we have implemented from day one, slowly brings results”.
But, he added, “I neither underestimate nor downplay the difficulties, the problems, the challenges.
“What I can say with certainty is that we know where we want to go, we know our goals, we know what our ‘red lines’ are, there is no question of any form of solution that goes beyond the UN framework and we will do everything possible to achieve positive results.”
Asked if there was an update on when the meeting with both sides, the UN and the guarantor powers would take place, he said that “no specific date has been set. What I can tell you is that this preparatory work has begun in order to achieve a result. The main thing is to have a positive result after this multilateral meeting.”